| February 22, 2008 | Friday | Safar 14, 1429 |
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Obama’s religious views
Overcoming sugar crisis
Police performance
The price of leadership
World Thinking Day
Electricity in Dhaka
Deduction of tax
New poll by BBC
We can if we all try
Drug prices
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
CONGRATULATIONS to the people for bringing about turn-table results in the election. This also means that the absence of the two ‘awami’ political parties from the previous election and from the country during the last eight years had provided a chance to the PML(Q) to rule the country as an open field and manipulate everything upside down, turning a deaf ear to the protests from the masses on irregularities and highhandedness.
Lately they caused shortages of foodstuff and did not check hoarders, some of whom were from among themselves, from benefiting from their power and influence. Prices were not checked and were allowed to go skyhigh, which was given the name of free economy by their economic and financial wizards.
Protests staged by the ‘awam’ against all this was never heard. Their electricity management utterly failed to relieve the nation of loadshedding, even in winter. This is a small list of their bad deeds and now the exit control should be exercised on their ministers to make them accountable for what they did during their rule and punish them appropriately.
Over Rs50 billion bank debts of their chums were conveniently written off as if it were their personal property. All involved must now be taken to task to bring all that money back in the national financial stream. Most ministers were wiped off in this election as an indicator of the masses’ intolerance for those stiff-necked faces.
The president needed them for support of his actions and they were never tired of obliging him to spoil him further and encourage him to take some very wrong action such as deposition of the chief justice and Supreme Court judges.
Perhaps the president himself had no problem with Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry until March 9, 2007 but pressed by his loyal prime minister Shaukat Aziz and the twin ministers for privatisation to remove the chief justice as the latter hindered in their way of completing the highly scammed deal of privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills for an eyewash price of just Rs12 billion to a PM’s friend, the president listened to them and acted on their advice to send a reference against the chief justice.
Later they all left the president alone to face all that followed until this day. The erosion of the PML(Q) in the election is a shock for the president. While a president is supposed to remain neutral to all parties in an election, our president’s advice to voters to vote for his supporting PML(Q) was taken by the masses as a breach of his protocol of neutrality. Thus it backfired and the PML(Q) was deprived of even some possible votes for them.
However, the nation must admit and admire that the president has delivered his commitment of holding a free and fair election, though reports of rigging from various parts of the country were there on the election day. However, the post-election harmony should be maintained now to allow winning parties to concentrate on forming the government.
The president’s message to the nation at the end of the election was: “Including myself, all should accept the election results and from here we should emerge as a civilised nation”. This should be taken in good faith, especially by the winning parties, which are also cautioned that they should not ignore the will of the ‘awam’ in dealing with the national affairs.
Henceforth, all those involved in decision-making should not play stubborn in resolving the core national issues, including the restoration of the deposed chief justice and all of the Supreme Court judges and the release of the detained lawyers.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
THIS refers to Jalal Hussain’s letter (Feb 17) in response to Zafar Ullah Poshni’s (Feb 15).
Mr Hussain seems to be under the impression that Barack Hussain Obama is a Muslim. He also says that Obama’s “Muslim connection” has not been highlighted anywhere, in the print or electronic media.
He is wrong on both sides.
Obama is, in fact, a Christian and his religious beliefs have been a hot subject of debate in the presidential race.
Mr Obama is a member of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and attends the Church with his wife and two daughters on Sundays.
Born to a Kenyan Muslim father and and a white Christian mother, his middle name is Hussain, taken from his father.
His father, a Harvard-educated economist, left the family when Mr Obama was two years old.
His opponents, particularly the Republicans, have been targeting him for months with innuendo that he is in fact an Islamist trying to enter the Oval office by stealth.
On Jan 15 he was confronted on television during a presidential debate and asked if he was a Muslim who secretly recited the Quran at midnight.
Mr Obama said: ”Let’s make clear what the facts are: I am a Christian. I have been sworn in with a Bible. I pledge allegiance [to the American flag] and lead the pledge of allegiance sometimes in the United States Senate when I’m presiding.”
On the other hand, there are Muslims who accuse him of being an ‘apostate’.
Mr Obama’s religious beliefs are his personal matter and need not be a subject of debate in the presidential race.
But I would like to remind Pakistanis that this is the same man who threatened last year to send . . . . . into Pakistan’s tribal regions if he became president (Aug 2, 2007).
Hillary Clinton, in contrast, slammed his remarks as ‘naïve’. (Aug 4, 2007)
However, I agree with Zafar Ullah Poshni that it is good to see Americans shed their prejudice and turn up in large numbers in support of an African-American presidential candidate.
KHUSHBAKHT VAKA
Karachi
I READ Naseer Ahmed’s letter on ‘Sugar industry’ (Feb 17) in which he wisely advises not to set up any more sugar industry and abstain from promoting sugarcane at the cost of other crops, especially wheat.
With the growing population and the increased domestic demand for flour, the government recently decided to import wheat from other countries, though we are quite capable of producing wheat to meet domestic needs. It makes no sense at all to import wheat at the cost of $500/ton, and export sugarcane at $300/ton.
The question is: why go for export of a commodity that is less profitable and is water-intensive; instead it will be wise to choose to meet the domestic demand through some other alternatives.
Two possible solutions that the government seems to be contemplating are: (a) shift from sugarcane to sugar beet and (b) price based on quality of sugarcane rather than just its weight.
The sugar beet experiment has already been successful in the NWFP. There are two mills that are operating for the last two or so decades.
Keeping this in mind, the government needs to establish a few more sugar beet mills in other provinces, especially in Sindh and Punjab.
The government needs to devise mechanism to bring in alternatives to cater to domestic demand for sugar.
On the down side, sugar beet crushing may be the least preferred alternative due to its use of furnace.
The furnace oil prices would make it unattractive for the crushers, as currently, sugar mills use sugarcane waste instead of furnace oil that comes almost free and is readily available.
But, there are other byproducts, in which sugar beet would do better, i.e. sugar beet pulp is rich in nutrients and would be good feed for cattle and would cover the costs that they may incur on furnace. The government should seriously pursue alternatives to end the sugar crisis in the country.
ALTAF A. ABRO
Islamabad
THIS is apropos of a news report that says the police have arrested three suspected suicide bombers in Hyderabad and recovered large quantities of weapons and bomb-making material (Feb 17).
Only a day earlier the Karachi police had arrested 10 militants who were planning to sabotage the election on a large scale.
In a short span of 10 days, more than 50 militants and suicide bombers, plus five young suicide bombers involved in October 18 twin explosions and five or six bombers responsible for the Dec 27 assassination of Benazir Bhutto were arrested. Stopping them from terrorising the people, the police might have invited the wrath of masterminds.
But the police have done a good job. Let’s give them a pat on their back. For a change they deserve it. The administration has woken up too. It has used the police effectively and even admirably.
It is satisfying that the administration had correctly anticipated the terrorists’ intention to create trouble during the election which had become the matter of life and death for all political parties.
While appreciating the good job the police have done during the last two weeks, I wish they could have done their duty just as good during 2007, a lot of innocent lives could have been saved together with saving Pakistan’s face and prestige.
We could have avoided the notoriety of inability to avoid the bloodshed as a result of mad desire of religious fanatics to kill their opposition.
M.K. NAQVI
Karachi
PRESIDENT Bush is visiting Africa. He has decided not to send troops to Darfur, despite the genocide taking place, on the grounds that he does not want to send US troops into another Muslim country.
Being a leader is always tough, demanding and lonely. A leader cannot keep everyone happy.
Had President Bush sent troops to Darfur, to halt the genocide, there would have been an outcry against him for invading another Muslim country. Now, that no troops are being sent, he will be blamed for apathy.
Finally, a leader has to live by his conscience. If he can sleep in the night peacefully with the decisions taken during the day, he is fine.
President Bush’s important visit to Africa should focus on:
a. Encouraging African countries to be economically independent and not be overdependent on aid from the West or international agencies. There is no free lunch forever. All financial aid comes with strings.
b. Applauding African efforts in fighting Aids and illiteracy.
c. Encouraging democratic conduct in Kenya, Zimbabwe. Exposing the regime of President Mugabe, which cannot even feed its countrymen.
d. Providing more funds for universities, hospitals.
e. Encouraging more industry in Africa.
RAJU ANEJA
Dubai
WORLD Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference, held at Girl Scouts of the USA’s Camp Edith Macy (now called Edith Macy Conference Centre). Conference attendees decided that there should be a special day when Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all around the world think of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their ‘sister’ Girl Scouts.
The delegates chose Feb 22 as the date for Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, and his wife Olave, who served as World Chief Guide. The theme for 2008 is ‘Think about water’, focusing on water’s importance to health and on the issues of access to clean water and water conservation.
Why they selected water because clean water is essential for life. We need clean water to drink, to stay healthy. It is also necessary to have a sufficient supply of water that is easily accessible to meet our daily hygienic and personal needs.
But over a billion people in the world do not have it. This fact and the lack of sanitation result in over two million people dying from water-related diseases every year. In the developing world, 5,000 children die every day from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. Girls and young women need clean water to survive – to be physically and mentally fit and healthy.
Water is important to the mechanics of the human body. The body cannot work without it. Our drinking water today, far from being pure, contains some 200 deadly commercial chemicals, besides bacteria, viruses, inorganic minerals, etc.
The levels of contaminants are at times high enough to cause acute health effects, such as nausea, lung irritation, skin rash, vomiting, dizziness, and even death.
Among its other benefits, water plays a major part in weight loss. It helps regulate our body temperature through perspiration, which dissipates excess heat and cools our bodies.
We even need water to breathe. As we take in oxygen and excrete CO2, our lungs must be moistened by water. We lose about one to two pints of water each day just exhaling. The kidneys remove wastes such as uric aced, urea and lactic acid, all of which must be dissolved in water. When there isn’t sufficient water, those wastes are not effectively removed, which may result in damage to the kidneys.
Brain tissue is 85 per cent water. Although the brain is only 1/50th of the body weight, it uses 1/20th of the blood supply.
Water helps carry nutrients through blood to the baby.
Water helps prevent bladder infections, constipation, and haemorrhoids, which are common during pregnancy: (a) The more water you drink, the less water you retain, (b) dehydration can trigger contractions and early labour, (c) amniotic fluid (mostly water) is replaced continuously throughout the day, so more water is needed to replenish the body. An active, athletic person needs two/three ounce per pound, which is 13 to14 glasses a day if you’re 160 pounds. The more you exercise, the more water you need. Spread out your water intake throughout the day.
Being a girl guide I want to give advice that every girl should drink at least eight to10 glasses a day, always drink boil water. Keep water clean and don’t waste water.
ITRAT GUL
Lahore
THIS is apropos of Dr Kaiser Bengali’s lecture on ‘Making sense of Pakistan and its economy’, delivered in December 2007 at Shirkat Gah office, in Karachi. The lecture is educative and illuminating, specially for the audience, which consisted mostly of those in their 30s.
However, I was most surprised to read a sentence in the transcript wherein he stated that ‘Dhaka city had no electricity in 1947’.
Born in Dhaka in the year 1923 and having had my early education there till I was 13 years old, I can confirm — supported by some relations of my age group, who, by the grace of God, are still around — that there was electricity in the city of Dhaka that we knew then.
It is possible that some outlying areas might not have been electrified then. Even the river port city, Narayanganj, about 10 miles from Dhaka, had electricity.
For information of your readers, I have pleasure in quoting from the book, Glimpses of old Dhaka, by Syed Muhammad Taifoor who writes: “The streets in Dhaka, until the advent of the 20th century, were dimly lit with sparse installations of kerosene lamps.
“On July 12,1901, Mr. Bolton — an officiating Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, officially installed the first electric installation in Dacca.
“Bearing the cost of this major project, amounting to nearly four lakh rupees, was made possible only, by the generosity of Nawab Khawja Ahsunollah of Dacca.”
I would like to take the liberty of requesting Dr Kaiser Bengali to kindly let us know the source of his information.
KHWAJA SAYEED SHAHABUDDIN
Karachi
I WOULD like to request the prime minister that tax deduction at the rate of 10 per cent on the profit of Widow Behbood Scheme of the National Savings Centre (NSC) should be imposed on investment above Rs500,000 whereas it is being imposed on investment above Rs150,000.
At present there are two categories of profit receivers on the NSC register: the investors who made investment earlier in WB Scheme have been receiving profit at the rate of 10.4 per cent per annum whereas the investors registered after 2005 are receiving profit at the rate of 11.4 per per annum.
Both categories of investors are being charged withholding tax on the profit amount on investment of Rs150,000.
The NSC authorities should deduct withholding tax on investment above Rs500,000 and give the same rate of profit to all investors.
A WIDOW
Karachi
THIS is in response to Mr Amin Suleman’s letter on the above subject. I think he has already received answers to most of his questions from election results.
But I would like to answer his query where he questions the credibility of the polls (which have already been validated). I think many readers would also benefit from this answer as many people wonder how can 1,600 people represent 160 million population.
The answer lies in a branch of mathematics called statistics. There are sophisticated statistical techniques developed that are used to survey a random sample as it would be impossible and cost-prohibitive to survey the whole population.
Then with the help of these tools a confidence estimate is established. If Mr Suleman and others have noticed all polls’ results have some level of confidence (usually 95 per cent).
In short, you need to study statistics to understand why you should consider these polls valid. All I can tell you and others is these polls are very reliable and they will get better with time as we gather more data and process matures. Election results have also proved the validity of these and other similar polls.
IMAD QURESHI
Chicago, USA
AT the Right-On Club meeting organised by Human Rights Education Programme (HREP) last week, more than 100 children from different schools of the city gathered to talk about the increasing violence in our country.
The guests included a journalist and a yoga teacher who made us think about the effects of violence in our lives and also showed us some ways of managing and controlling anger which leads to different types of violence.
We want everyone to know that we are very scared and worried about this situation but we know that we can stop this by learning to control our anger and by spreading this message wherever we are.
The children of today will hopefully make the world a more peaceful place by rejecting to take part in this madness around us.
RIGHT-ON MEMBERS
Karachi
A SPECIAL committee of the health ministry has quietly and hurriedly recommended a five to eight per cent increase in the country’s drug prices.
Excellent step indeed. When the majority of population is already dying of hunger, why bother about drugs.
DR IRFAN ZAFAR
Islamabad
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